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95% of the country basking in winter's warmth

Max Gonzalez, Thursday August 28, 2014 - 13:46 AEST

The past few days have seen quite warm temperatures across western and southern Australia while along the eastern seaboard temperatures have been closer to average. Ironically this warmth is set to end with the beginning of spring.

A high pressure ridge has been leading to mostly clear skies across the north, west and the central interior. Much of Western Australia's west has experienced unseasonable warmth this month with plenty of sunshine heating up the land. The Gascoyne, Central West and Central Wheat Belt have been leading the charge, running close to five degrees warmer than your average August.

Perth's mean daytime temperatures are currently tracking close to three degrees above average for the month at 22 degrees. Perth is currently on track for its warmest August on record when it comes to daytime temperatures.

To the north, temperature extremes have been more significant, with Carnarvon averaging 28 degrees so far this month, five degrees above the norm.

Across to Southern Australia, Adelaide has been tracking at least three degrees above average since Tuesday, reaching 22 degrees yesterday (five above average) and 23 today (six above average). Moreover, the remainder of this winter's days are forecast to reach the low 20s.

Melbourne is also set to end winter with four days reaching the low twenties after nudging 20 degrees yesterday (five degrees above average). This is the first time that Melbourne will end winter warmer than Sydney since 1993.

Even Hobart nudged the 20 degree mark yesterday, which is a whopping seven degrees above the August norm. The capital of the Apple Isle is likely to remain about five degrees above average until the first of September, reaching the high teens every day.

Along the eastern seaboard, an east coast low has been wreaking havoc with heavy rain, strong winds and severe thunderstorms east of the divide. Since Monday, Brisbane has been reaching 24 degrees (only one degree above the norm) and is set to end August at about 22 degrees for daytime temperatures, which is one degree above the long term average.

Across the border, Sydney finally reached 20 degrees yesterday after only reaching 16 degrees the previous day (two degrees below the norm). Although showers are now clearing and moving offshore, Sydney won't be reaching the low twenties until Saturday, most likely ending the month with an average day time temperature of about 18 or 19 degrees.

This early warmth, however, is about to end on September 1st as a cold front marches across the southeast bringing rain and a cold air mass with it. Ironically, this will come just in time for the beginning of spring. Luckily, Sydney and Brisbane will see a brief warm spell on the 1st of September in warm northerly winds ahead of the front.

- Weatherzone

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